Aww, how cute is that? I suppose I should stop commenting on my own work. Too bad, can't stop me, hahahaha! Anyway, on with the show! I mean, Chapter Sixteen! And I own none of the characters but Serenity, Luke, David, Megan, Jaques, and Angelique.

Proposal

Serenity and Luke began to see each other much more often. They were frequently sighted walking together, hands clasped, talking quietly and laughing.

On a day not long after Serenity had found her way into Luke's room, he asked her to walk with him to a local park, where they spent the afternoon wandering through the gardens.

"Why have you brought me here?" Serenity asked him abruptly.

"To enjoy your intriguingly uplifting personality," he answered quickly, in mock seriousness, glancing sideways at her."

"Most assuredly. But you can bask in that any time. You have a reason for coming here. Don't fool yourself. I know you better than you know you!"

"You're right, as always," he said, pulling her into the rose garden, a crescent-shaped alcove filled with the soft, sensual fragrance of the roses sprawling uninhibited over the grounds; blooms flourished in dozens of shades of spectacular colors: crimson, white, orange, yellow, pink, and a deep purple that bordered on black. Luke plucked one of these, one of the truly black blossoms, perfectly balanced between bud and full bloom. He handed it to her as she sat delicately on the vacant bench, her silky blue skirt sliding across her trim legs.

"It's beautiful," she whispered, looking at him lovingly.

"You're beautiful," he told her. She blushed softly, saying, "Oh, how cliché." Luke laughed softly and kissed her. "Did I ever give you a birthday present?" he asked suddenly.

"No, I don't believe you did, my good sir," she teased, merriment in her eyes. "Did you forget already? Do I matter so little to you? This does not bode well for our relationship. I shall, however, forgive you if you fall upon your knees and beg for my most gracious mercy!"

He rolled his eyes at her. "I asked, dearest one," he mocked back, tapping lightly on her porcelain mask, "because I have one for you now."

"I really think I should prefer the groveling." She looked at him bewilderedly as he bent upon one knee. "Oh, really, I was kidding, Luke. Please get up before you ruin your -" She trailed off as he took her left hand into his right one as he retrieved a small box from inside his coat. She stared at it in shock; he calmly gazed at her, eyes filled with adoration.

"You have no idea how long I've dreamed of doing this," he said after a moment, as tears welled in her eyes.

"Senna, love of my life, would you do me the honor of wedding me?" He opened the box to reveal a silver ring; a sapphire, Serenity's favorite stone, sat between two delicate diamonds that twinkled merrily in the afternoon sunlight. Here hand flew to her mouth, and she laughed through her tears. She went down on her knees in front of him and put her hands on either side of his head, kissing him passionately for a long moment. She broke away finally, looked at his hopeful face, and broke out into peals of brilliant, joyful laughter.

"Yes!" she giggled. "Yes, of course, Luke! You should have known I was only waiting for you to ask! It's either you or Jaques, in any case."

Luke smiled and kissed her again, then stood up and pulled her after him. He slid the ring on her hand, and it fit perfectly onto her slim finger. Serenity noticed the perfection of the fit, and hoped it was an omen for the happiness of their marriage. Luke grabbed her waist, picked her up, and spun with her as the two had done in the cemetery so many years before. As it had all those years ago, the sun shone brilliantly, and Serenity laughed brightly, smiling down at her fiancée. He set her down, kissed her quickly, and the two walked slowly, hands joined, back to the Opera House.

"Wait," Serenity said as they walked back to her room, "have you asked my father for my hand? He is the kind of man who will demand tradition. I know him." She smiled. "I almost am him."

"Yes, Senna, I asked him. He also said it had taken me long enough to come to my senses. I didn't tell your mother, though. I thought you might want to be the one to share the news."

"Thank you," she whispered, and kissed his cheek. She turned and ran down the halls to Christine's room.

"Mamma!" she yelled, bursting through the door. Christine jumped and looked up, startle. She saw Serenity's smile and her tension eased slightly.

"Serenity, don't do that!" she cried. "You scared me half to death, again!"

"Mamma, it was worth it this time."

"You said that when you were ten and you lost your front tooth. And when you were thirteen and you kidnapped that crippled monkey from the Gypsies."

"Yes, but believe me, this is better!" she said anxiously.

"All right, what is it?" Christine sighed.

Serenity regained her composure, straightened her shoulders, and looked at her mother, eyes gleaming.

"Luke proposed to me," she said calmly, after a long pause, holding out her left hand. The sapphire sparkled brightly.

"What?" Christine screamed, and leapt up to embrace her daughter. "I'm so happy for you! You said yes, of course?"

Serenity laughed, eyes dancing. "Of course! He's so wonderful. He loves me, despite the mask. And he's so sweet and she and handsome and... just wonderful." She sighed and sat down. "I'm getting married," she whispered, surprise and joy in her voice. "So strange, that I'll be wed before you."

Christine's eyes hardened, but she looked happily at her child. She sat down next to her, and the pair discussed plans for the future ceremony late into the evening.